USC to hold public hearing for capital projects plan

Upper St. Clair Township Commissioners will hold a public hearing at their regular meeting on Aug. 5 to consider the next five-year capital projects plan.

The 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Program includes $66,849,450 worth of projects over the next five years.

Finance director August Stache Jr. has called the plan a road map or wish list for the township. The items must be included in the township’s annual budget for any given year in order for them to be confirmed.

The items under the 2014 year of the capital plan will be under consideration for funding along with the township’s operating budget at the end of 2013.

The proposed capital budget for the first year of the five-year plan – 2014 – includes $7,200,100 worth of projects. Of that figure, $5,217,400 are considered a priority for funding in 2014, while another $1,982,700 worth are “under review” for funding.

Priority items in the 2014 year of the plan include $1,200,000 for the township’s annual street improvement program, plus an additional $60,000 for a crack sealing program. Also listed as priority items for 2014 are more than $400,000 in information technology improvements, including new software and hardware.

Several vehicles are scheduled to be replaced in the public works department under the proposal, including pick up trucks and also a street sweeper that is expected to cost $250,000.

For the Community Development department, $10,000 is listed as a 2014 priority item for funding progress on the 2015 Comprehensive Plan.

New lounge seating and tables are listed for 2014 for the township’s library with an expected cost of $26,000.

Sports court and walkway resurfacing are on the 2014 draft plan for Hays Park and Tustin Park, for a combined total of $90,000.

Park equipment replacements amounting to $400,000 are also listed as a priority for 2014.

A total of $75,000 is proposed to be spent on the sidewalk plan for the township, in addition to $5,000 for wayfinding signs for sidewalks and trails in the township.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the proposed capital plan after the public hearing on Aug. 5.